In this BeefBuzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays talks to Kansas State Associate Professor and Beef Extension Veterinarian Dr. AJ Tarpoff about weaning strategies for calves.
One strategy Dr. Tarpoff referred to as a hard wean. He explained this method by saying, “At a single point in time, we separate mom and calf. From that point in time, they remain separated, and that calf will be managed with its cohorts.”
Producers with good, solid structure fences have less stressful options for weaning. With fence line weaning, the calves can be separated into lots adjacent to their mothers and be introduced to their own water tank, and feed bunk while their mothers are just across the fence. The mothers and calves will gradually drift away from one another in their own times.
In a two-stage weaning strategy, early planning is more important. Nose flaps would be clipped into the nostrils of the calves to interfere with their ability to nurse. “Essentially, this method separates the mom from the calf nutritionally before physical separation,” Dr. Tarpoff explained.
He mentioned another low-stress weaning strategy. “Maybe you aren’t set up to do any of these individually, but anything you do will be a benefit,” he commented. “What I mean is an introduction to the environment. If you start feeding the entire herd in the weaning location and the mama cow is bringing the calf into the weaning area, she introduces her calf to the water tank and the feed bunk. That is a low-stress strategy that is easy to accomplish in a lot of different scenarios.”
In this situation, the mothers would be removed rather than the calves and the calves would already be in a familiar environment.
Dr. Tarpoff says that the time is now to begin preparing calves for weaning. “It is time to prepare our spring-born calves for the next transition, whether that be to a grower, a feedlot, or the auction barn,” he said. “It’s up to us to plan ahead and ensure that everything is in place to prepare these animals for the next production stage to the best of our abilities.”
He plans his entire year around weaning. He said it is important to consider short- and long-term plans for how you will wean your calves. Long term, means how long you will hold the calves in a preconditioning situation, so now is the time to consult with a veterinarian about preweaning vaccination schedules.
“Prior to weaning is also a great time to deworm these animals to make sure that we clean out any of those efficiency-robbing internal parasites,” Dr. Tarpoff said. “After deworming, those calves will be better prepared to make the most of their ration so that they may gain up to their potential.”
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